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THEN

“I would like to thank Sister Rosaria (Shina) for keeping me sane — or a reasonable facsimile thereof — during my high school years 1968-1972. My mother was very hard on me, and most of our time together was spent listening to her criticize me. According to her, I could do nothing right.

Having frequent talks with Sister Rosaria — who treated me like a nice, intelligent teenager (and occasionally reminded me that I would be moving away to college soon) — was often the main thing that kept me from despair. Quite frankly, there were times I wished I were dead. If not for Sister Rosaria, I may not be here today. Ultimately, my life did change when I moved away to college.

Moreover, Sister Rosaria was the first person I ever encountered who made me question the racial bigotry that my parents embraced. I certainly hadn’t had much exposure to people of different races. Even St. Francis Academy had only one African-American student during the years I was there!

Sister also awakened in me a love of history that I have maintained to this day. I have had a reasonably happy life, including careers as a lawyer, teacher and program manager, and I know that I have used what I learned from Sister Rosaria in each one. Thank you, Sister Rosaria!”

Now

Kathy retired last fall from her job as a senior program manager with the John Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, where she created and managed online critical reading courses for academically-gifted students. She lives in Baltimore with her husband, Paul. The couple raised two children, Michael and Katie, who have busy careers.

After St. Francis Academy closed in 1987, Sister Rosaria moved on to retreat ministry with our St. Francis Center for Renewal and served as provincial minister of the Bethlehem Province from 1998 to 2007. She lives at Monocacy Manor, assists with our lay Associates program and spends plenty of time with her sister, Sister Amata Shina.

read more then & now features

A Soft-Spoken Voice Still Echoes | Setting a Fine Example | ‘Angel’ Among Them
Home Away from Home | Eye-Opening Influence